Water-gage



(No Model.)

G. A. HENDERSON.

WATER GAGE. No. 338,737 Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

NirnessEs. QlNVENTORI,

' GEQAHENDERSON.

3% MM. M M @Mv n. FFIERS. Photzruflwgraphnr, Wmhingicn. n.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

GEORGE A. HENDERSON, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

WATER-GAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,737, dated March 30,1886.

Application filed June 15, 1885. Serial No. 168,716. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. HENDERSON, a resident of the city of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Water-Gages, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to increase the efficiency of water-gages by making the position of the water in the glass readily perceptible.

My invention is based on the fact that rays of light will pass through an empty glass tube in a direct line, while the same tube filled with water will have the refracting capacity of a doubleconvex lens. To utilize the abovementioned peculiarities, I exclude the light from the rear portion of the glass, with the exception of a narrow longitudinal strip coextensive with the glass, and the result is, that when viewed from the front the light through the strip appears above the water-surface as a narrow white line and below the water-surface as a white band the entire Width of the glass. The difference in the width of the refracted and the unrefracted light is so marked that the position of the water can be determined instantly and with absolute certainty.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front View of a water-gage illustrating the principle of myinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe glass and easing. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one-half of the casing, and Fig. 4 is a side or edge view of a portion thereof.

a indicates that portion of the glass that is filled with water.

2) indicates the empty portion of the glass.

0 represents the opaque casing as formed of a pair of strips, parallelly adjacent, but not in actual contact.

0 indicates stiffening-ridges on strips 0.

c are attaching-hooks for strips 0.

d are securing-clamps, that pass through hooks c" and embrace the glass.

e in Fig. 2 indicates the opening between strips 0 0, through which light is admitted to the glass.

f in Fig. 1 indicates the water-surface.

It is obvious that the manner of constructing and attaching the casing may be varied almost to infinity, as the only essential requirements are an opaque partial casing provided with a longitudinal opening or a series of closely-connected openings on a vertical line.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An opaque partial casing for the glass of water-gages, having an open face and a single longitudinal rearward aperture, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A glass for water-gages, having one side transparent and exposed and the other side opaquely incased, with the exception of a narrow central longitudinal strip, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A partial casing for the glass of watergages, composed of a pair of coextensive opaque strips, longitudinally parallel and laterally adjacent, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a casing for the glass of water-gages, for the purpose set forth, the combination of strips 0, provided with hooks o, and resilient clamps d, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. A. HENDERSON.

Attest:

I. V. EYMAN, O. G. CLARK. 

